Centering for concrete arches.



L. P. SYLVBSTBR.

CBNTERNG FOR CONCRETE ARCHES.

APPLICATION FILBD Nov. 1, 1911.

1,108,639. Patented Aug. l2,5, 19.14.'

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E y 2/ zf.

[NVE/Wok .ESVZI/eef.

BY v

L'F. SYLV'ESTER.

GENTERING FOR CONCRETE ARCHES.

APPLICATION FILED N 0V.A1,I 1911.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

ZSHEETS-SHBET 2.

W1 TNESSES agylweserd NITED A4 ,smilrps- PATENT OFFICE' LOUIS F. S'YIJVESTER, OF HOBOKEN, N EW. JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL FIRE PROOFING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, IEIII\TI\TSYlJVA'Il-,4 .A CORPORATION OF PENN- Licenses .SYLVANLL p To aZZ'whor/rtiitj-indy concern: l 13e. itv known that I, LOUIS y a'A citizen o-f the :United States, residing in l Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New; Jersey,',have invented a cert-ain new and-useful" Centering for Concrete Arches, of .which .the following is a specication.

This invention is acentering` for arches,

more ,particularlyl concrete arches,- and the object'ofthe' invention isfa structure ada ted\to'be used Yinthe construction Vofarc es.

, ofvarious spans anddepths.

without dismantling its parts. `The disad- With-this object;1n'v1ew, the centeringy consists of two members adjustable to .and

from each other, whereby they may be po sitioned at the'ends of arches of various spans, the space intermediate the4 two mem-` bers being closed by sheathing boards.- Each of the saidmembers is composed of a' haunch board and extension. pieces which form the support -for the sheathing. Preferably a: portion of the sheathing is ixedly attached to the extension pieces at? the ends.

where'said 'pieces' join the haunch board,

. the said extension pieces, hauneh board and the attached sheathing 4forming an adjust.-

able unit.

The solit board is attached to soilit blocks, and these parts are suspended below a 4metal girder, as is customary, but the novel addition to this structure is the provision ofmeans'for retaining the adjustable members in position upon said soflit blocks. In order that the centering may be used 4on arches of varying depths, I make provision for inscrtingpadding between the soiiit board and the soflit blocks.

Heretofore in .the construction of concretev arch-es it is customary to make the'centering i'none ofitwo ways. .One way was to nail the various parts of the form together, said parts being of such size and arrangement as to lit the form of arch which it was proposed to make. According to thisme'thod" it will be noted that a new constructionpwasnre! speeication pf Letters rte't Appiicationie'a Novela-ber 1,191-1.1'vseriain, 657,94?.

cENTEmNG Fon concurran-'Rentas i vrammed nagaan, 1914.

- vantage'off-thislatter method is 'that such a F.. SYLVESTER,

form can be used only in the construction ofy arch corresponding to the dimensions o fv the permanent form. F orgthe reasons given, such methods' are expensive and troublesome.l The present" invention obviembodies' a' simple'and economical way of constructi'on'of arches varying in span and 'depth- Other features of the invention, and the in. ,connection with the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have -illu`strated' one practical embodiment ofthe invention, but the ccnstructionshown therein.is to-be understood as illustrative, only,

tion.

F igure'l 1s a Vert1cal'cross1section illuslation 'to adjacent. beams for the purpose of tween the beams and for enveloping. said beams with concreteA material. n plan view of thestructure..illustrated in Fig. l.. 3 is a detail'perspective View illustrating one of the unitary members or see- 'tions ofthe improved centering. Fig. .4 is a detail perspective View illustrating a soii'it board and soiit blocks which are adapted-t0 pose of supporting the members or sections of the centering. Fig. 5 isa vertical cross section through one beam. a solit board co# operating therewith. andsoiiit blocks for -of-paddiugf tbesoliit board in order to suppo-rtLit at' different distances below the View -illustrating affilier strip which may be a haunch boardof one unitary member o-r section. of the centering, for the purpose of supporting the haunch board in an elevated position relative to the soflil' blocks. Fig 7 is a View showing an additional supporting means forthe sofiit board. Figs. S and 9 Vare details of the invention.

In the example shown in Fig. v1, the concrete material is tobe molded in the space between adjacent parallel I-beams A, B, the

using the ,adjustable parts referred to in the advantages 'thereof1 will appear from the .follow-'lng detailed description .when taken and not as diningthe limits'of-the inventrating the new centering in coperative re molding a concrete arch in the space be Fig..2 is a.

said board. said View illustrating a methodv bottom flange ofthe beam.. Fia. 6 is ,a detailates the various diiiiculties referredto, and

be suspended below each beanrfor the purused in connection' with the solfit blocks and top surface of the concrete material X being substantially flush with the top flanges of said beams. Under such conditions the centerin is suspended from the beams in a position to support 'the concrete material across the span between the beams until said concrete material shall have become set, and

the centering operates, also, to mold theV concrete material around the webs and {langes of the beams.v Below the bottom flanges' of the adjacent beams are positioned soft boards 10, 11, said boards extending lengthwi'sevof the beams, and being ar-l nection with each board. If; a short' board is employed, two or. three soffit blocks may be fastened thereto, but it is preferred to 'employ comparatively7 long sofiit boards,

and to attach a series of soilit blocks to the long board. In some cases'I use a sol'lit board which is sixteeny feet in length, and fasten four sofit blocks to the board, at suitable intervals. The soit blocks are of such length asvto exceed the width of the soiiit board, and these blocks and the'board are attached, either directly or indirectly.` The -soliit blocks'are positioned transversely beneath the so'li'it board, the end portions of each solfit block extending beyond the respective side edges of the sofiit board. Ordi-' narily, the board and theJ series ofblocks are attached directly together by nails or other fasteners indicated at 14, but in some cases it is necessary `to employl padding l15 between the board and the blocks, as shown in Fig. 5, wherebythe soliit board is supportedv in a raised position with respect to the series of transverse soliit blocks. vThe padding 15 consists of one or more strips positioned between the board and the blocks, and as shown,`the padding is fastened by nails 16 to the sollit blocks, and the board is fastened by nails 17 to the padding strips, but if desired, nails 17 may pass through the board and padding and .into the solit blocks, thus dispensing with nails 16, although it is preferable to fasten the padding tothe soflit blocks, and the board to the padding, in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Each soft block is provided; in its top edge with notches 18, 19, said notches being spaced.y

with relation to each other, and the two notches being positioned beyond the respective side edges .of the soliit board. In lieu of thenotches, I may employ other means,

such as stop blocks 2O shown in Fig. 6, said blocks 20 being fastened to the top edges of the soliit blocks so as to occupy a spaced relation to the respective side edges of the board. Suitable means are provided for `suspending the soilit boards and the -soffit blocks below the respective beams A, B. As shown, a series of metallic hangers 21,22 are employed, said-hangers being looped around the soflit blocks and looped, also, around the top iianges of the girder. Each hanger is composedofl `metal, preferably strong flexible wire, which is looped around the soliit block, on one, side of the soilit board, said wire extending upwardly along` side or the beam, and having its top end bent over the beam and caught below the top flange thereof. Two wire hangers are shown as engaging with each soifit block, the wire hanger 21 being positioned at one side of the soliit board and being bent at its upper end in one directioirover the Atop flange of the beam, whereas the other hanger 22 is looped the adjacenthangers 21, 22 byv the wires The wires 23 are looped around the soliit beard intermediate the solfit blocks, and they are bent so as 'to 'catch into the bott-'om liange of the girder, see F ig. 7, whereby each soflit board is supported by a series'of hangers attached to the soliit blocks thereof and said i, solit board is braced intermediate thesoflit blocks by the wireg or hangers23, the latter` v y being attached'to the bottom ila-nge of the"4 The described construction provides a se-v cure means for supporting the sotfit blocks l and the soiiitboard below the beam, so that the soliit board will occupy stationary hori- Zontal position below, and parallel to, the bottom li ange el the beam, whereby the soilit boardsv are adapted to support a thickness of concrete material below, and in contact wvith, the bottom flanges of thevrespective beams. t n I The concrete material in the span between the adjacent girders is supported by unitary members, indicated in their entirety by the reference characters C, D, and by one 'or more loose sheathing boards E, said unitary members or sections being adjustable with respect to each other so as toadapt the two members for use in connection with spans of varying widths. The spacesbetween members C, l), when they are extended to their full width, are closed by the employment iso of 'a number of -sheathing boards E, which rest looselyupon certain arms of the respective members. i

zThe detailed construction of the adjustn 5,m able-members C, D is' :1s-follows: Member C -embodies'a haunch board 24, a plurality A-O :horizontal .arms 25, -andl one or more sheathing boards 2G. The haunch board 24;

' may vconii'st ofvone, two or morepieces to which are attached vertical cleats .27.=` The arms- 25 are fastened in any suitable way tov-the cleats or to the haunch board, or to. both the cleats'and the haunch board, and

i the angle. joint between the arms and the haunch board is strengthened by metallic 'v .angle irons or straps 2S,- the latter being shown as nailed to the cleats,l 2'? and to thev extension arms 25. Arms are substantially at a right angle to the haunch board, and they are spaced with reference to each other, said arms being parallel. rl'h-e sheathing boards 26 whichv enter into the construction of 'section or member C are fastened permanently to the extension arms 25 25 -ot said member or section, a suitable nurn-V ber of these sheathing boards 26 being employed, three being shown. The other mem# ber or section D of the centering is similar in construction to the member C, that is to 29 composed of one or more'pieces,`extene sion arms 30 attached tothehaunch vboard and extending at a right angle thereto, a proper number of sheathing boards 31 'fastened to the extension varms,cleats secured to one face of haunch board 29 and to extension arms 30, and a metal brace or strap 33 secured to the cleats and the` eX- tension arms. AThe arms 25 of section C and the arms 30 of section D extend for suitw able distances beyond Athe permanently attached sheathing boards 26, 21, respectively." When the sections C, D are assembled be.-`

tween two adjacent beams, the span between the centering foi-med by members C, D, the

extension arms 25, 30 of the respective s'ec said soilitr` blocks by suitable means which allows' the stretcher to be easily removedwhen the centering is to be taken down. If desired, the respective end portions of the stretcher may be temporarily nailed to the adjacent soit blocks, but it is preferred to -tially Amidway. `between the beams. runner is of suitable length, thickness and say, member D consists of a haunch boa-rd' which is less than the aggregate length ofl employ clips g for retaining each end por- I a metal plate which -is bent into` a loop -so as to einbracethe bottom and two side edges or the stretcher. Said clip is provided, 'pi-eieiably, iwith another clip g, the latter embracing the sotlitbloclr adjacent to the n ctch 19 therein. Clip g is fastened in posi- -tion by clip g embracing the soilit block and being fastened theretoin a suitable way, .whereby the clip g operates to'strengthen ftheqsoilit block adjacent.- to the mitch 19 therein, thus prei-en ting the'soiiit block from breaking when ,the iiau'nch board is engaged "withthe notch. A series ot stretchers Gere employed across the span between the beams, the end porticns of each stretcher being supported by two adjacent soiiit blocks The 'runner His' positioned upon the series Iof stretchers G. 'Said runner H extends lengthwise of the arch, and is positicnedsubstzlub T iis depth to su port the extension varms 25, 30 of sections.` D,- respectively, said extension arms of the sections resting upon the runner, whereby the inner ends of sections C, D are `upheld bythe series of stretchers and the runner. Obviously, two or more runners 'may bepositioned1- upon the stretchers for supporting the extension arms of the respeetive'sections C, D, and if'dcsireld, the runners may be elevated with respect to the stretcher by the use of f padding 7L, see Fig. 9, `said padding consisting 'of blocks or strips attached to the stretcher and adapted for engagement with the runner.

Assuming that it is desired to use the centeringbetwcen adjacent beams separated-by a span offa definite width, I procefed as .fol-

lows to install' the centering. The lsoiiit boards 10, 11 are placed in position below lof@ the lower flanges ofthe beams, and the hangers 21, 22 are looped around the soit blocks' which are attachedto said boards, lhe upper ends of the hangers being b ent 'around thetoppflanges of beams. The

stretchers are now vplaced inA position -between the beams, so that the end portions of the -str'etchers rest upon the sofit blocks, the

clips'g 'engaging With said end portions of the stretchers to retainthe latter in'position. One or more runners H are now placed upon `the stretchers,4 substantially midway between, and parallel to', the beams. The unitary sections C, D are now positioned between the beams. The h a'unch board 24 of section C fits into, the notches 19 of the soit blocks 12 so that the haunch board is .adjacent to'beam A and soiiit board 10, the

arms 25 of said member Aor section C eXtendhaunch board 29 of section D lits into the Vnotches 18 of soffit blocks 13, said haunch board 29 being adjacent to beam B while arms 30 of section D extend to and across the runncr Il. rI`he arms Q5, 30 of sections C, D, respectively, thus rest upon the runner in a manner for thearms to substantially overlap cach other, whereby the inner arms 25, 30 of the respective sections. The centering is now 'positioned to receive the; concrete material, which material may be dumped or otherwise deposited upon the sheathing boards, and againstthe haunch4 boards of sections C, D, and upon the soiiit boards l0, l1. The concrete material is thus .supported below and around thebeams by the soit boards andthe haunch boards, andv said material is supported be-tween the beamsby the sheathing boards which are attached to, or rest loosely upon, the sections C, D. The concrete material is thus lled in and around the beams and upon the centeringso that the slab of concrete material is substantially'flush with the top iianges of the beams as indicated at X, in Fig. l. If desired, the extension arms 25, 30 of the respective sections may be provided with perforations through which are adapted to be drivennails.v as at L, see Figl, for the purpose of fastening the arms of .the sections 1n position relative to the runner.

The centering operates to support theconcrete material and to hold it until said material becomes set and4 hardened. l/Vhen it is desired to remove thecentering the runner I-:I is withdrawn, stretchers G lifted out of position upon vthesotht blocks, and the wires4 of hangers 21, 2Q are cut, whereupon the sotlit blocks and' somt boards are lowered away from the concrete material around the beams, and the unitary sections C, D, may Ithus be-withdrawnfrom the span of concrete material. It isevident that the sev,n eral parts composing the centering may be easily and quickly disconnected and removed.

In molding the concrete around beams of a certain height it becomes necessary at times to' raise the soiiit boards with respect tothe sotrit blocks, and this is. accomplished in my invention by the employment of. padding l5 which is interposed between the blocks andthe board. Again., it 'isnecessary at times to elevate the haunch boards 24, 29 relative to the soitit blocks, and to retain said haunch boards in operativepositions' relative to -said blocks. cured` by the employm-entpof filler blocks I which are inserted into the notches 18, 19 of the soit blocks, sec Fig. G. The haunch boards are adapted to rest upon the filler blocks I, `and they are engaged by blocks 2O- which are fastened to the soiiit blocks, whereby the haunch Iboards are adapted to tit inv notches between the soilit boards and the blocks 20.

In `molding the concrete material between wide arches thesoiiit blocks and soflit boards arel installed as heretofore described, stretchers G and runners H are placed in position, and sections C, D are positioned between thc beams, said sections being moved away from each other or drawn apart in order that the .iaunch boards y.may rest upon the softit blocks. The extension -arms 25, 30 of the two sections permit this .relative adjust' ment between said sections in order to accommodate the centering to arches having spans ofditlerent widths. When the'sections are drawn apart the arms thereof rest` upon one or more runners, and said armsv operate to support the loose sheathing boards which are employed to till in the space between the permanent sheathing lboards attached to the sections.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the centering of my invention may be used in installing arches, the spans of which vary in width and the concrete o'f which is to Ibe molded around beams of varyy ing heights. The centering may thus be adapted for supporting concrete material which is to be molded into an arch either flush with the beams, or raised slightly above the beams, or depressed slightly below the beams, as may be deemed necessary. Ihile I have described the centering as adapted for use in molding plastic material around and between the beams, it is evident that the invention may be -used `for* other purposes. f

From the foregoing description it is evident that certain parts of the centering are adapted for use repeatedlyin molding arches the depth and width of which may -be of various dimensions. It is not necessary tonail lumber togetherin order -t-o produce thc forms required for molding the concrete on every 'job of work, for the reason that the solitA boards and soiiit blocks, the unitaryv My new centeringfulfils all the conditions in molding concrete for arches the width of which varies, and wherein beams of dilerent depths'and of different widths of flanges, are used. In arches, of diierent dimensions7 the width of the flanges.' ITheft-wo sections C, D ,extensible'or collapsiblewith respect4 embodying s'olit boards adapted to be positoeach other, and the parts 'associated theree with, make provision for the use of the cen' loteriiig in arches lthe width of Which Varies; The means for' padding .the soitit board '-r'elativeto the sotlit blocks, for-siispendiiig the s'oilit.I blocks,` and 'for supportingthe fhatinch boards upon the soiiit blocks, pro-j vide for molding the concrete to the desired Adepth around beams the vertical dimensions "of which vary in the diner-ent arches.` The notches 18, 19, in the sofiit blocks are of such length as to"exce`ed the thickness of thc 29 haunch boards (see 5), and thus the haunch boardsI are adpi'stable in the notches 'oftlie sotlitblocks so that the hanncli boards will be movable. relative to 'the width of the beam i-anges, 'whereby tho'haunch boards are' g5 Vadapted to be placed inoperative relation to -bean'isthe flanges of which vary in width.l

Tt is evident that sofhtflboards ofv different vwidths Aareto be used in connection with rbeanis the bottoni langes of which vary in 30 width-,' aii'd'this use of different widths of sotlit boards is rendered possible by positioninO'tl-ie liaunch boards in the notches of 'the so it blocks in suoli manne-rthat the hauiic'hv boards are shiftable relative `to thepibeain franges. -llien thesoliitf boa'i'd/ and. the haunch boards' are proi'per'ly assembled rela- Vtire tothe beam andy the l'sri-tht blocks, 'any space vin thenotolies 18, lQ'let-unlled by the haunch boards may bctilledtin by-iller blocks so as to .secure a tight engagementof the hannch boards with the notched 'soiiit blocks.,

Having thus fully'described the invention, what I claim new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent is tween lparallel bea'ins embodying a series of hangers attached to -said beams and de-v pending therefrom, soiht boardspositloned below said beams, substantially. `parallel thereto, said soilit boards being supported by said 'hangers in spaced relationfto thebeams are' used which vary in depth and iiiv l. A centering for constructing arches be- =being in overlappingrelation tothe vsimilar arms of theotlier unitary section, means by which the horizontal arms of .the two sections `are upheldbetween the liaunch boards, and sheathing boards supportedion said horizontal 'arms between the liaunch boards.

2. A centering foriise in installing arches tioiied below-the beams, soflit blocks 'fast with said soilit boards, the length of each Isollit block exceeding the width ot the sotlit y board to which it is attached, ,meansfor susand lunitary sections o r members positioned between the soliit boards, each section or member having a haunch board which is supported by the extended end portions lof the sotlit blocks of one so'llit board.

13. A centering for use in installing arches ei'iib'odying soiiit boards adapted to be positioned below the beams, soiiit blocks-fast with Vsaid sollit boards, the length of each soi'iit block exceeding thewidth of the. sotlit 'board `to which it is* attached, means for suspending the soiiit blocks from the beams, unitary sections or members positioned between the soilit boards, each section or menibcif .haring-,a hauncli board which is supported by the extended end portions of the soi'iit' blocks of one soltit -board, and means .foiaretaining'the hauncli board in position with relation to .the soiiit blocks.

Il. A centering for use in installing arches embodying sotlit boards provided with attached soiiit blocks, said sottit blocks being extended at their ends beyond theside edges 'of the 'soiit boards and said extended end fportions'i'ii" the-sotiit blocks being provided .with notches, suspending means engaging wtlitlie solit blocks for 'supporting the Y soffit boards in .position below certain beams, fand unitaryA members or sections positioned `-:between the beams, each member or section being provided with a hauncli board which is engaged with the notches of the soflit blocks on one solit board,

5. A centering for use in installing arches emb0d ing solit' boards provided with attached sofiit blocks, the ends of which are extend-ed beyond the side edges of the soilit boards, means for 'supporting the sotlit boards in operative positions relative to certain bea-nis, stretchers extending between the beams, said stretchers being supported bv the extended end portions of the soiiit blocks.`

unitary members 'or sections each provided with a hauncli board positioned to be supported by the extended end portions of the soilit blocks, vand means on the stretcheis tor supporting the adjacent ends ot the unitary sections or members.

(3; A centering for use in installing arches embodying soflit boards provided with at` tached soilit blocks, the end portions of whichl are extended beyond the side edges `pending the sofiit blocks lfrom the beams,

of the soilit boards, means for supporting the soiiit boards in operative positions relative to certain beams, stretchers extending between the beams, said stretchers being supported by the extended end portions of,

the soilit blocks, means for retaining the stretchers in lixed relation to thev soft .blocks, unitary members or sections each' provided at one end with a hannch board which is positioned to rest upon the extended end pprtions of the soiiit blocks of a soliit board, and meansjcarried by the stretchers for supporting the adjacent ends4 oi the members or sections.

7. A Vcentering for use in installing arches embodyingl sofiit boards provided With attached soiiitv blocks, the end portions of which are extended beyond the side edges of the soflit boards, metal-hangers attached to the extended end portions-oi` the soiiit blocks and engaging with certain beams for supporting the soiiit boards inoperative positions below the beams, stretchers extending between adjacent beams, said stretchers be* ing carried by the extended end portionslof the soiiit blocks, unitary members or section each provided with permanent sheathing boards and with a haunch board Whichis positioned to rest upon the extended end portions of the soit blocks on a soiiit board, means carried by the stretchers forsupporting the adjacentA ends'of said members or sections, and additional sheathing boards resting uponthe members or sections inten mediate the permanent sheathing board thereof. 8. A centering for use in installing arches embodying a series of soiit blocks positioned beneath, and crossvvise of, certain beams, means'for suspending the soifit blocks from the beams, sofiit boards positioned above and attached to the soiiit blocks, the end portions l of which soiit blocks are extended beyond the side edges of the soiit boards, means intermediate the sofiit blocks and the soit boards for raising the latter relative to the -former7 stretchers supported by the extended end portions of the soiiit blocks, unitary sections.

t). A centering for use in installing arches' ,embodyn'ig a plurality of soiitboard's each provided with transverse soiiit blocks, said soiiit blocks being extended at their ends beyond the side edges of the-soiiit boards and said extendedends of the soiiit blocks being provided with notches, means for support ing the sof'pit boards in .operative positions with relation to certain beams, stretchers carried bythe soffit blocks, unitary members or sections each having a haunch board positioned' tol engage with the notches of the solit blocks, means carried by the stretchers for supporting the adjacent ends or' the sections or members, a filling for the no-tches'in Y the soiiit blocks` whereby the haunch boards "may be raised, and means'for retaining the haunch boards in position upon the introduction ofthe notch fillings;

l0. A centering for use in installing arches embodying a plurality of soiiit boards each provided with transverse soii'it blocks, said soiit blocks being extended at'their ends beyond the side edges of the somt boards and said extended ends of the soiiit blocksbeing provided with notches, meansfor supportving the soffit' boards in operative positions with relation to certain beams, clips attached to the extended end portions of the soit blocks, stretchers resting upon the soft blocks and retained'in position by the clips,

unitary members or-sections each having a vmembers or sections supported by the soit v blocks and the stretchers, and a sheathingboard or boards resting on the members or 

